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02/08/2012
Before you rush out and get your taxes done, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises you to check your tax preparer’s BBB Business Review and be aware of pitfalls that trip up taxpayers every year.
BBB Business Reviews are a great way to check out any business, including accountants and other tax professionals. The reviews list any complaints filed against a business in the last three years. They rate companies A+ to F based on 16 factors, including how long they’ve been in business and how they respond to complaints.
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01/19/2012
For the fourth time since November, 2011, scammers have shown that they recognize the power of the BBB name. The latest misuse of the BBB trusted name is another phony complaint notification. Recipients of any such emails should NOT click on the link and should immediately delete the message.
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12/15/2011
The BBB is issuing a red alert about a Minnesota company trying to lure job seekers with phony promises of mystery shopping and lucrative salaries. In addition, the company is capitalizing on the name of a similar, legitimate company and falsely claiming to be “listed with the Better Business Bureau.”
CotterWeb Market Research Inc (sic) apparently is tweaking the name of Cotterweb Enterprises, Inc., located in Mendota Heights, MN, because that company has an A+ rating with the BBB of Minnesota and North Dakota.
The fraudulent company sends unsolicited letters, accompanied by a check,...
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12/15/2011
The BBB is urging consumers to use caution when responding to a solicitation regarding insurance coverage for the water pipes that lead from the street into the house.
Home Emergency Insurance Solutions has sent a mass mailing to the Fresno area urging homeowners to purchase ‘Water Line Insurance Protection’ policies. Although there is no government seal used on the documents, the wording makes it sound as if notification is official and that the insurance is required.
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12/07/2011
Better Business Bureau is issuing an urgent SCAM alert cautioning businesses and consumers about an email that looks like it is from BBB, with the subject line “Complaint from your customers.” This e-mail is fraudulent; ignore its contents and delete it immediately. If you have already clicked on a link in the e-mail, run a full virus scan of your computer.
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12/06/2011
If you are a renter, you should be aware that California law entitles you to heat in your dwelling.
According to California Civil Code §1941.1, the definition of “habitability” includes: ‘heating facilities that conformed with applicable law at the time of installation, maintained in good working order.’
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12/01/2011
When you can’t take your pet with you, finding a kennel or pet care service you can trust is paramount. The Better Business Bureau created a checklist to help owners choose a reliable home-away-from-home for their pets.
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11/29/2011
Shop or donate online only on sites that use technology that encrypts your personal and financial information before sending it for payment processing. Encrypting sensitive information makes it inaccessible to anyone outside the system.
Always look for the “s.” Any page on a site that asks for personal or financial information should have a URL or Web address beginning with https:// as opposed to the usual http://.
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11/23/2011
The Better Business Bureau is warning businesses to beware of a returning campaign of malicious e-mail that pretends to be from the BBB about a complaint filed against the company. Several businesses across the US have reported receiving a suspicious e-mail from the address seatac@bbb.org with the subject line “BBB Complaint Case #” followed by a nine-digit number. Both BBB Accredited and non-Accredited Businesses have been targeted.
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11/16/2011
The California State Board of Equalization (BOE) today announced that letters were recently sent to businesses in Fresno’s zip code 93710 notifying them of upcoming visits to verify proper business permits. The letters are part of a series sent to more than 14,500 retail businesses in 18 different zip codes statewide, informing them of upcoming visits by BOE specialists.
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11/15/2011
In another example of using technology to help share reliable information, the BBB today released the official BBB Search app, a convenient, mobile BBB solution available for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. The app was approved by the Apple Store and is available for download as of today.
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